Atari Mindlink

The Atari Mindlink is an unreleased video game controller for the Atari 2600, originally intended for release in 1984.[1] The Mindlink was unique in that its headband form factor controls the game by reading the myoneural signal voltage from the player's forehead.[2] The player's forehead movements are read by infrared sensors and transferred as movement in the game.[3]

Mindlink
A Mindlink controller at the National Videogame Museum.
DeveloperAtari
TypeVideo game controller
ConnectivityController port

Specially supported games are similar to those that use the paddle controller, but with the Mindlink controller instead. Three games were in development for the Mindlink by its cancellation: Bionic Breakthrough, Telepathy, and Mind Maze. Bionic Breakthrough is basically a Breakout clone, controlled with the Mindlink. Mind Maze uses the Mindlink for a mimicry of ESP, to pretend to predict what is printed on cards. Testing showed that players frequently got headaches[4] due to moving their eyebrows to play the game. None of these games were ever released in any other form.

References
  1. Top 5 Hardware Super Fails. "Top 5 Hardware Super Fails | Top 5 with Lisa Foiles Video Gallery | The Escapist". Escapistmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-07. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  2. Vendel, Curt. "The Atari Mindlink System". Atari Museum. Archived from the original on 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
  3. Scullion, Chris (2014-03-10). "The Atari Mindlink and other outrageous controllers". Computer and Video Games. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  4. "20 Worst game accessories ever". T3. 2012-03-23. Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
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